While there is a growing market for organic solar cells ­­– they contain materials that are cheaper, more abundant, and more environmentally friendly than those used in typical solar panels – they also tend to be less efficient in converting sunlight to electricity than conventional solar cells. Now, scientists who are members of the Center for Computational Study of Excited-State Phenomena in…Read more

Arizona law protects individual homeowners’ private property rights to solar access by dissolving any local covenant, restriction or condition attached to a property deed that restricts the use of solar energy. This law sustained a legal challenge in 2000. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of homeowners in a lawsuit filed by their homeowners association seeking to…Read more

The Agua Caliente solar farm near Yuma features First Solar’s thin-film cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar modules. Located 65 miles east of the city of Yuma, Arizona, this plant is one of the world’s largest operational PV power plants with 290MW (AC) connected to the electricity grid.
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There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't. The typical solar water heater is comprised of solar collectors and a well-insulated storage tank. The solar collector is a network of pipes that gathers the sun's energy, transforms its radiation into heat, and then transfers that heat to either…Read more

The idea of using the sun to meet the energy needs in our buildings has been with us since the time of the Greeks, with some of the design manifestations even evident in the prehistoric structures of Arizona and the Southwest. There is a great historic tradition for Arizona buildings that utilize our most abundant resource, and the current increases…Read more

Photo shows the situation after a battery discharge test at 300 amps was terminated on a 1530 AH IBE battery string when one post melted. During the discharge test all cell voltages are logged. The sum of the cell voltages was 2.73 volts lower than the 48-volt string voltage. This is an average of 118 mv per inter-cell connection, 5-10…Read more

Some things to pay attention to in Arizona

SRP Board Elections April 3, 2018

The policies set by the SRP Board of Directors have had severe impact on the installation of residential PV systems in the SRP service area in Arizona, reducing the rate of new residential PV installations by 97% due to a major solar unfriendly change in rate schedules. SRP is a public power utility (in contrast to the investor owned utilities that are governed by the Arizona Corporation Commission) and as such is governed by its elected Board of Directors.

A slate of five Clean Energy candidates, Randy Miller (at-large 14), Corey Hawkey (at-large 12), Sheila Motomatsu (Seat 10), Jeffrey Grout (Seat 8) and Dennis Michael Burke (Seat 6), are running for positions on the Board of Directors. These candidates will advocate for pro-solar policies at SRP. Two pro-solar candidates elected to the SRP board in 2016 are already making a positive difference in SRP policies, but more votes are needed around the table.

Now is the time to make sure if you have a vote, request a ballot: http://register.srpcleanenergy.org/ or call 602-236-3048. SRP will mail ballots starting March 7th 2018. You must mail in your ballot for the Candidates listed above before March 31st 2018!

ASEA REBOOT

The Arizona Solar Energy Association (ASEA), State Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society ASES), will be holding meetings in a follow-up to the-long awaited updated ASES‚ Chapters handbook and directives.

ASES evolution, in response to some problematic economic and operational conditions, has resulted in a hearty and robust context for the present and the future. ASEA is now responding with an appropriate updating, through local and statewide discussion.

Interim Chair, Andy Gerl, a past ASEA Chair and Board member, is making arrangements for Arizona solar advocates and supporters, members and non-members, to receive both an update re: ASES adaptation and changes, and to discuss solar in Arizona and the “reboot" of the ASEA context, goals and objectives, within the context of varied renewable energy groups within the State, such as AriSEIA (the solar trade association); various sustainability groups; Green Building organizations; the recently formed solar hot water businesses non-profit entity; research and development at the universities; and others.

For more information about the ASEA Reboot discussions, contact Andy at andrew@blazingsolar.com or 602-799-5942

Scottsdale’s Green Building Lecture season kicks off with a panel of industry leaders on the economic value of green. These free programs run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the dates listed below at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. RSVPs are not needed.

Joan loves to grow food wherever she can find some space! This includes her alley, where she has created a unique project called "Food in the Alley". It is a demonstration garden and laboratory where everything from Moringa trees and sugar cane flourish along with kale, swiss chard and tomatoes, AND, anyone is welcome to come by and harvest what they need. This is just one example of Joan's socially engaged art practice!

Melanie Albert is an intuitive cooking expert and author of "A New View of Healthy Eating".

Melanie is the founder of Experience Nutrition Group, LLC and loves teaching and creating hands-on opportunities for people to see how easy and fun it is to prepare delicious and nutritious meals and snacks for the whole family. She is a regular workshop teacher and can be found shopping at local farmers markets - always excited and supportive about what can be grown in Arizona! She encourages us to eat mindfully and cook with culinary skills and your intuition.

Joan and Melanie will prepare some tasty samplers for all those in attendance. Learn how to grow your own vegetables and why eating local and In- Season Organic Roots and Veggies is the best approach to a healthy lifestyle. They will share their easy favorite recipes for the winter season with ingredients from their gardens! Come join the fun and take home a free gift!

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About

Welcome to the Arizona Solar Center

This is your source for solar and renewable energy information in Arizona. Explore various technologies, including photovoltaics, solar water heating, solar architecture, solar cooking and wind power. Keep up to date on the latest industry news. Follow relevant lectures, expositions and tours. Whether you are a homeowner looking to become more energy efficient, a student learning the science behind the technologies or an industry professional, you will find valuable information here.

About The Arizona Solar Center

Arizona Solar Center Mission- The mission of the Arizona Solar Center is to enhance the utilization of renewable energy, educate Arizona's residents on solar technology developments, support commerce and industry in the development of solar and other sustainable technologies and coordinate these efforts throughout the state of Arizona. About the Arizona Solar Center- The Arizona Solar Center (AzSC) provides a broad-based understanding of solar energy, especially as it pertains to Arizona. Registered…Read More